Cristiano Ronaldo: The World’s Best Footballer Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before

Summary

In this episode of the Whoop Podcast, host Will Ahmed interviews renowned athlete Cristiano Ronaldo, delving into his early football days, the balance between talent and work ethic, and his rigorous recovery routines. Ronaldo, now an investor and global ambassador for Whoop, shares insights into his use of the Whoop device for optimizing performance, revealing a daily regimen that includes cold showers, meditation, and a meticulous focus on diet and sleep, all contributing to his sustained excellence in sports.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Cristiano Ronaldo discusses his early football career and how he started playing at a very young age, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the sport as a child.
• 🌟 Ronaldo admits that he did not initially see himself as a future superstar but developed that sense as he progressed in his career, particularly in his late teens and early twenties.
• 🔥 The soccer star attributes his success to both talent and work ethic, stating that neither can thrive without the other, and he has consistently maintained a high level of performance for over 20 years.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ronaldo credits his family, particularly his father, for their support and motivation during his early years, highlighting the role of a supportive environment in shaping one's career.
• 📈 The conversation delves into the importance of discipline and consistency in achieving long-term success, with Ronaldo sharing his personal challenges and strategies for maintaining his performance levels.
• 💪 The podcast highlights Ronaldo's use of the WHOOP fitness tracker, which he has been using for over 600 days, and how it helps him monitor his physical and mental recovery.
• 📊 Ronaldo's WHOOP data reveals impressive stats, including a resting heart rate of 43 bpm, which is among the top 3% of professional athletes, and a high daily strain level, demonstrating his rigorous training regime.
• 🍽️ The soccer star meticulously tracks his diet and various lifestyle factors in the WHOOP Journal, underlining the significance of a holistic approach to health and performance.
• 🧊 Ronaldo shares his daily recovery routine, which includes cold showers, massages, and other modalities, and how he incorporates these practices into his life to enhance his performance.
• 🧘 Ronaldo occasionally practices meditation and visualization, especially before games, to mentally prepare and focus, attributing this to his ability to perform under pressure.
• 🤝 The podcast concludes with Ronaldo expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership with WHOOP, both as an investor and global ambassador, and his belief in the product's ability to help people improve their performance.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the Whoop Podcast episode featuring Cristiano Ronaldo?

The main theme of the episode is to discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's early football career, his journey to becoming a global superstar, the balance between work ethic and talent, his use of Whoop data for recovery, and his partnership with Whoop as an investor and global ambassador.

How did Cristiano Ronaldo's interest in football begin?

Cristiano Ronaldo's interest in football began at a very young age, around 7 or 8 years old, when he started playing in the streets with his friends and colleagues, which is where he first felt that sport was fun.

What does Cristiano Ronaldo attribute his success to, talent or work ethic?

Cristiano Ronaldo attributes his success to both talent and work ethic, emphasizing that talent without work is nothing and work without talent is nothing too. He believes in the combination of both for sustained success.

Who was the main person that motivated Cristiano Ronaldo in his early years?

In his early years, Cristiano Ronaldo's father was the main person who motivated him and pushed him to follow his dream, recognizing his talent and encouraging him to play not only on the streets but also for a local team.

How did Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Lisbon at the age of 11 impact his career?

Moving to Lisbon at the age of 11 was one of the most difficult parts of Cristiano Ronaldo's professional career. It was hard to leave his family in Madeira and pursue his dream without them, but this move helped him become stronger mentally and contributed to his success.

What is Cristiano Ronaldo's daily strain according to his Whoop data?

Cristiano Ronaldo's daily strain according to his Whoop data is 14.9 out of 21, which is considered high, indicating that he is consistently pushing himself physically.

What does Cristiano Ronaldo do to recover well despite his intense training?

Cristiano Ronaldo recovers well through a disciplined routine that includes various recovery modalities such as massage therapy, cold showers, cold plunges, and sauna sessions. He also emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and consistency in his daily habits.

What is the significance of Cristiano Ronaldo's resting heart rate as measured by Whoop?

Cristiano Ronaldo's resting heart rate of 43 beats per minute is in the top 1% of men on Whoop and in the top 3% among professional athletes, indicating exceptional cardiovascular fitness.

How does Cristiano Ronaldo use the Whoop Journal to track his lifestyle?

Cristiano Ronaldo uses the Whoop Journal to track 43 different aspects of his lifestyle, including diet components like carbohydrates, turmeric, zinc, caffeine, vitamin B, and vitamin C, which he believes collectively contribute to maintaining good nutrition and overall health.

What is Cristiano Ronaldo's morning routine like according to the podcast?

Cristiano Ronaldo's morning routine includes waking up, having a cold plunge, drinking water, enjoying morning sunlight for a few minutes, having coffee, and spending time with his family, which sets the tone for his day.

How does Cristiano Ronaldo practice mindfulness or meditation before a game?

Cristiano Ronaldo practices mindfulness or meditation, particularly on game days or when he feels stressed. He visualizes moments that could happen in a game and sometimes his subconscious does it by itself, which helps him be more prepared and calm during the game.

Why did Cristiano Ronaldo decide to partner with Whoop?

Cristiano Ronaldo decided to partner with Whoop because he sees it as a fantastic tool that helps him be a better athlete and person by providing insights into his daily activities and recovery. He also believes in the company's direction and future prospects and appreciates the product's authenticity.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 Introduction to Cristiano Ronaldo's Interview

In this introductory segment, Will Ahmed, the host of the Whoop podcast and CEO of Whoop, welcomes listeners and introduces the day's guest, Cristiano Ronaldo, a globally renowned athlete. The podcast aims to delve into Ronaldo's early football experiences, the balance between talent and work ethic in his career, and his exceptional recovery methods. It also mentions Ronaldo's new role as an investor and global ambassador for Whoop. The host invites listeners to try Whoop with a 30-day free trial, setting the stage for an engaging conversation with the football star.

05:03

👶 Ronaldo's Early Football Memories and Path to Stardom

This paragraph delves into Cristiano Ronaldo's first memories of playing football at a young age on the streets with friends, highlighting how his love for the sport blossomed from these early experiences. Ronaldo discusses the importance of his father's early influence and support, which pushed him to pursue his dreams. The conversation touches on the athlete's journey from playing in a local team to realizing his potential and the hard work required to maintain a top-level performance over two decades. Ronaldo emphasizes the combination of talent and work ethic as crucial to his success.

10:04

📊 Analyzing Ronaldo's Whoop Data and Recovery Routine

The host and Ronaldo explore the insights gained from Ronaldo's Whoop data, which provides a detailed look at his physical and mental performance. With a resting heart rate in the top 1% of men and high sleep performance, Ronaldo's dedication to recovery is underscored by his consistent use of the Whoop device. The discussion reveals Ronaldo's daily strain levels and recovery habits, including a high compliance rate with wearing the device. Ronaldo shares his perspective on the importance of discipline and consistency in maintaining peak performance.

15:06

🏋️‍♂️ Ronaldo's Daily Discipline and Recovery Techniques

Cristiano Ronaldo details his daily routine and the discipline required to maintain his fitness and recovery. He discusses the various recovery modalities he uses, such as massage therapy, cold showers, and sauna sessions. Ronaldo emphasizes the importance of a consistent daily routine, including his morning rituals of cold plunges and sunlight exposure, which set the tone for his day. The paragraph also touches on the mental aspect of discipline and the challenges of staying motivated over an extended period.

20:07

🤝 Ronaldo's Partnership with Whoop and Personal Benefits

In this segment, Ronaldo explains his reasons for partnering with Whoop, citing the product's significant impact on his personal performance as an athlete. He appreciates the tool's ability to help him monitor his daily activities and sleep, contributing to his overall well-being. Ronaldo's endorsement of Whoop is rooted in his genuine belief in its benefits, which aligns with his commitment to excellence in sports and life. The host expresses gratitude for Ronaldo's involvement and the mutual appreciation for the product and its impact on their lives.

📢 Closing Remarks and Invitation to Experience Whoop

The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to experience the benefits of Whoop for themselves with a 30-day free trial. It invites listeners to use a special code for additional savings on Whoop accessories. The host thanks Cristiano Ronaldo for his valuable insights and participation in the podcast, encouraging listeners to stay healthy and perform at their best, encapsulating the overall theme of unlocking human performance.

Keywords

💡Human Performance

Human Performance refers to the potential and capacity of individuals to perform physical, cognitive, and emotional tasks. In the context of the video, it is the central theme as the host, Will Ahmed, discusses with Cristiano Ronaldo how various factors contribute to enhancing one's performance in sports. The video aims to 'unlock' this potential, as indicated by Will Ahmed's mission with WHOOP.

💡Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a globally renowned professional footballer known for his exceptional skills and success in the sport. In the video, he is the guest who shares his insights on achieving peak performance levels, making him a prime example of 'Human Performance' in action.

💡Work Ethic

Work ethic is the idea of putting in consistent and disciplined effort towards achieving goals. Ronaldo discusses the importance of work ethic in his career, stating that it plays a significant role alongside talent in his success, as he believes 'talent without work is nothing'.

💡Talent

Talent refers to a natural aptitude or skill in a particular area. The conversation between Will Ahmed and Ronaldo delves into the balance between innate talent and the work ethic required to excel, with Ronaldo emphasizing that both are crucial for sustained success in sports.

💡Recovery

Recovery in the context of sports and fitness is the process of rest and restoration that allows the body to heal and prepare for the next physical activity. The video discusses Ronaldo's recovery methods, such as cold showers and massages, which are vital for his high-performance training regimen.

💡WHOOP

WHOOP is a performance optimization system that provides insights into sleep, recovery, and strain. In the video, it is highlighted as a tool that Ronaldo uses to monitor his physical and mental state, emphasizing its importance in his daily routine and performance tracking.

💡Investor

An investor is someone who puts money into financial projects with the expectation of achieving a profit. Ronaldo is mentioned as not only an ambassador but also an investor in WHOOP, showing his belief in the product and its potential impact on performance optimization.

💡Compliance

Compliance in this context refers to the consistency with which Ronaldo uses the WHOOP system, with a 95% compliance rate indicating his dedication to tracking his performance metrics daily, which is a testament to his work ethic.

💡Resting Heart Rate

Resting heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute while at rest. Ronaldo's heart rate of 43 beats per minute is highlighted as being in the top 1% of men on WHOOP, showcasing his exceptional cardiovascular fitness.

💡Strain

Strain, in the context of the WHOOP system, measures the physical and mental exertion an individual experiences daily. Ronaldo's high daily strain score of 14.9 out of 21 reflects his rigorous training and the demands he places on his body.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the ability to control one's behavior and overcome resistance to achieve goals. Ronaldo talks about the discipline required to maintain his training and recovery routines, which is a key component of his success and a central message of the video.

Highlights

Cristiano Ronaldo discusses his early football career and the importance of enjoying the sport from a young age.

Ronaldo shares that he did not initially see himself as a future superstar, but his aspirations grew as he matured.

The influence of his father and the local team in Madera played a significant role in Ronaldo's early development.

Ronaldo emphasizes the importance of both talent and work ethic, stating that neither can succeed without the other.

He attributes his consistent high performance over 20 years to a combination of talent and hard work.

Ronaldo's disciplined lifestyle, including his diet and recovery habits, contributes to his exceptional performance.

The soccer star reveals his daily routine, including cold showers and visualization techniques to prepare for games.

Ronaldo's use of the WHOOP device has helped him monitor his physical and mental performance, contributing to his recovery.

He has been wearing the WHOOP device consistently for 646 days, demonstrating an impressive 95% compliance.

Ronaldo's resting heart rate is in the top 1% of men on WHOOP, showcasing his exceptional fitness level.

His daily strain is consistently high, yet his body continues to recover effectively, indicating his body's adaptability.

Ronaldo tracks 43 different aspects in the WHOOP Journal, highlighting his meticulous approach to health and fitness.

He explains the importance of mental strength and overcoming the reluctance to train, even when not feeling motivated.

Ronaldo's partnership with WHOOP is a natural fit, given his genuine appreciation for the product and its benefits.

The soccer legend's investment in WHOOP and his role as a global ambassador reflects his belief in the company's mission.

Ronaldo thanks the WHOOP team for creating a tool that has personally helped him maintain his peak performance.

Transcripts

what's up folks welcome back to the

whoop podcast I'm your host will Ahmed

the founder and CEO of whoop and we're

on a mission to unlock Human Performance

we've got an amazing guest for you today

arguably the most famous and well-known

athlete in the world Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano needs no introduction we're

going to be sitting with him in just a

second now we discussed his early

football career what it took to

ultimately become a global Superstar

work ethic versus Talent we go deep into

his whoop data and some of the things he

does to recover at a superhuman level

and we talk about our partnership in

which Cristiano is now an investor in

whoop and a global Ambassador it's a

really fascinating conversation stay

tuned if you're thinking about joining

whoop you can visit our website sign up

for a free 30-day trial that's right try

whoop for 30 days no cost to you

here we go okay Cristiano welcome to the

woop podcast thank you I'm grateful to

be here with you we're we're here in

your home we're going to talk a lot I

think about training and data and

recovery but I thought i' would start

just by asking you what's your first

memory of playing

football well for me it's a pleasure to

be with you when I start to play

football you mean yeah when I was very

very young with

the probably 7 8 n years old I

start to play in home in the street with

my colleagues with my

friends and I think this is where

everything starts uh you know that you

start to feel that the sport is fun didb

did you fall in love with the game

immediately I think so yes yeah I

thought it it was like the first love

when I start to to play in a in a street

it was fun and I said listen I like this

now did you know that you were going to

be a superstar your whole life did you

have that feeling like never never never

I will I will be false if I say yes in

the beginning when you

start uh you always have that passion to

enjoy yourself to spend time with

friends and and uh to have fun but in in

the begin not not even with 14 15 16

years olds I didn't felt that maybe

after that with 18 9s 20s yes I start to

feel everything was different and in

that time period did you find there were

a few people that you gravitated to or

who gave you that sort of motivation to

say okay I can do

this in the beginning probably was uh my

my father uh my father in the beginning

pushed me a lot not a lot a little

bit to follow my

dream in the beginning with seven8 years

it was my father because he saw some

that I I had some talent and he keep

push me uh to play Not only in the

street but we had a local team in Madera

that they call andura I don't know how

you say in English

and I don't know how you say but now

they're going to thinking is a club sure

Madera club that everyone knows if they

Andor I will tell you in English is a

name of the bird yeah and I start you

know to be with teammates and I start

you know the role of

football I start that there now we

talked uh when we first first met about

this difference between making it

because of talent and making it because

of work ethic and you said to me you

felt like an enormous percentage of your

success has come from work ethic and

that there's sort of an unfair

perception maybe of you of just being

hyper talented and that's where all the

success comes from to be honest I think

both have to work in the same time

because Talent without work is nothing

and work without Talent is nothing too

so I think the both mix up uh so and of

course I have I have two I'm not will

say that I have more one than the other

one because if you see

my my old career for the last 20

years my level was high and this is as

you can know it's really tough not only

in in a football but in any area if you

are top for 20 years is is

unbelievable and I and I do that and I

continue to do that for me it's a big

achievement and my biggest motivation is

to carry on to still enjoy to make

people happy to make my family happy so

for me I have both talent and work ethic

do you think you got a lot of that work

ethic from your father

him pushing you when you were younger

maybe both my mom too Mom and Dad my

brothers too I think it's it's this

childhood to make you feel what you are

or make you be what what you

are the difficult of of things that you

pass through in your life make you being

stronger

mentally to challenge a hard life and of

of course the environment too helps I

don't know if he knows but I move with

11 years old from

Madera to Lisbon which is it's it's it's

hard to be honest it's probably was the

most difficult part in terms of

professional of my career so it was hard

to left my family in uh in Madera to

follow my dream in Lisbon without your

family with 11 years old

I can see now my kids Cristiano my

oldest

son I don't know if I will be capable to

let him go to I don't know at this age

in this age two years more yeah will be

tough what's the cost what's the

sacrifice of being this good for that

long you know what do people not see

that you're

doing life is is a a box of surprise in

and it's hard you know it's not it's not

easy you know to be in this level and

still push and still

motivate to carry on you know to score

goals to be in a good shape to compete

with the Young Lions they they coming

and when they play against me they want

to show they want to show me that they

are stronger than me and faster than me

you have to prepare very well not in

terms of

physically but mentally too I think it's

very hard but in the same way is a

challenge you know because as you can

see you if you treat good your body you

can maintain so many many years and this

is is the big challenge for me and uh

it's great I feel I feel proud for that

to have this Ag and still compete in a

highest level for me it's it's great and

give me motivation to carry on well a

lot of your discipline comes through

actually in your whoop data and we're

going to talk a little bit about that

when did you first discover whoop I

discovered whoop uh a few years ago and

to be honest it's for me it's a tool

that can help me it's like to have a

doctor in your WS yeah and for me it's I

cannot live without whoop because his

help me a lot not only in terms of phys

physically but

mentally and in a sleep sleep way it's

it's a it's a great tool in my opinion

so I'm I'm really pleased that I use it

it's like in the beginning I Fall In

Love since I start to use it so I feel

good with that well a big thing that

we've we've tried to do at whoop is is

find people who authentically love the

product and then amplify their story and

uh you've been on whoop for 646 days now

turns out you've got 95% compliance so

you literally wear the product non-stop

it seems like and for us like what's

amazing is now we get to show the world

how does Cristiano Ronaldo train what's

it like to be him what is all the

dedication and work ethic that goes into

it so with that in mind I want to talk a

little bit about your data first of all

you have a resting heart rate of 43

beats per minute which you know but

that's in the top one % of men on whoop

and even amongst professional athletes

in it's in the top 3% so that's as you

say top top top that's is good uh your

sleep performance 81% so that's pretty

good on average your strain is 14.9

every single day 14 point

14.9 out of out of 21 so that's high

you're getting 51% of your days are in

the green and then the rest in the

yellow and then a very small percentage

are in the red so even with all this

training your body's still recovering

which is really impressive what are you

doing to recover so

well well I I can say I can be cookie

and say I give you the map you are

willing to do that yeah it's the main

the main point because everyone wants to

be Cristiano

but I give you the map you think you

will do it that it's difficult it's the

discipline the discipline is is the most

difficult thing not only in the sports

but in a life so the whoop Journal which

for people listening to this allows you

to input all sorts of behaviors and

activities and lifestyle decisions you

actually track 43 different things in

the whoop Journal so let's see here from

from a diet standpoint you're tracking

carbohydrates turmeric zinc caffeine

vitamin B

vitamin

C which of those components do you find

helps

you I think it's all

package helps you

to to

maintain a good nutrition in my opinion

it's all component not only these

components but you have a few more that

helps you to be good in my opinion so

small details in the end of the day will

make the big difference in my opinion so

so as you say and I will keep repeat the

consistence is the most difficult thing

just doing it every day yes every day do

you ever wake up and you say I don't

want to do it today I fight against my

mind yes sometimes it it's happen we are

we are all human beings we are we are

not happy every day we are you know not

in a good mood every day it's normal

it's part of it's part of us what do you

do to overcome

that I fight against the that you know

it's it's the big challenge it's when

you're not willing to do something but

you have to do it this is is the main

point this is why I

say our mind it's it's a box of

surprises and you have to challenge

yourself to be

consistent I repeat sometimes it's hard

it's what many people say um you like to

go to the gym every day of course no

it's not true nobody like to go to the

gym every day but you have to do it

probably yes

because your mental strength is coming

from that from that moment that in a

hard moment you know you should do it so

and I do it because after that maybe in

the beginning you feel hard to start but

after when you finish the gym or cold

lunch or or even the training you will

feel better I think it's it's it's the

big key

there what's up folks if you are

enjoying this podcast or if you care

about health Performance Fitness you may

really enjoy getting a whoop that's

right you can check out whoop at

whoop.com it measures everything around

sleep recovery strain and you can now

sign up for free for 30 days so you'll

literally get the high performance

wearable in the mail for free you get to

try it for 30 days see what whether you

want to be a member and that is just at

whoop.com back to the

guests let's talk about some of your

recovery modality you've got massage

therapy cold showers cold plunge sauna

steam there's 208 days where you've

logged cold showers 35% of the days

you're recording a recovery

modality talk a little bit about these

different

habits for me it's

right

now it's a a normal day in office as you

say sometimes it's it's part of my life

you know it's like some people they

don't brush the tee every day they don't

take a coffee every day so I take C

punch every day because it's part of my

my routine my my journey you know it's

it's and it's it's not a sacrifice for

me to be honest I enjoy to do that

serious I'm not I'm not say that just

surprise the people no no I'm enjoy to

do it this kind of stuff probably for

some persons there a sacrifice is a

nightmare but for me no I really enjoy

to be honest because I felt after that I

feel good what's your routine like uh

which order do you do things we are

animals of routines you know and my

routines

it's 90% of my days they are very

similar you know you want to you want to

know uh since I I wake up let's let's do

it so in the morning I wake up I have my

cold plunge I my have my machines I have

my showers and everything I wake up I go

there first thing I diving in first

thing in the cold first thing yes I

prepare my water to drink because you

know as you know during the night we've

been di hydration it's it's it's it's

very low so I take my water my shower my

cold plune are coming down you know be

nice with my with my family with my kids

I give a hug are coming out to have

lights in my eyes uh morning sunlight

yes two three minutes just to give the

information to my brain that it's it's

early to wake up yes and after that I

take my coffee and when I start

my day a nice conversation uh it's my

routine what I like to do it it's like

in the morning to sit take my coffee

speak with with my kids with my wife and

start the day this is my routine after

of course during the day of thousand

things to do it but this is the basic

points this is the that gets you started

yes and do you have any form of uh

mindfulness meditation breathing

practice I don't do it every day I do it

for example the breed uh I do it in

meditation when I feel a little bit more

stressful especially uh the day of the

game game yeah when you do uh meditation

before a game do you visualize the game

at all visualize moments in the game yes

yes sometimes I do to visualize a few

points that can happen in a game I like

to do it and sometimes it's my

subconscious that do it by himself yeah

so but it's nice you visualize a few

things not even during the game but

during the period that you go to the

stadium to warm up you know before the

game during the game and it's fun it's

fun to be honest and I like to do it

it's amazing how they can come true what

you see can come true right many things

is is uh even even sometimes I speak

with my my friends and I tell

them I said listen today in the game

they're going to we going to have a

penalty I felt the day of the game that

they're going to give a penalty and

something happened will happen in the

game I felt so I go more prepared

because if you visualized before you

will be more

prepared uh for that moment so it's it's

fun I notice when you do a free kick or

a penalty there's like a moment right

before you kick the ball right or you go

like breathing because make you calm

when I do that make me me my art rates

comes down coming down is that something

you

practiced yeah you have to practice but

but the routine of it everything routine

because even in the training I do it I

don't do it only in a game I do it even

in a training so because it's the habits

when you do so many things one thing you

become a habit so this is what I try to

do with every time well it's it's really

exciting to get to know you more

Cristiano and talk about all of this uh

tell me why whoop why this

partnership why because I

think as I told you before for me is a

fantastic tool help me a lot to be a

better man better person better

athlete and um you can see what you do

during the day during the night so it's

a fantastic

tool and of course that I know through

that you the company they're going very

well and um the perspective for the

future is it seems very bright so this

is good and I really love the product so

it's easy match up for me and to meet

people like you uh good people I know

even better that my decisions was

perfect so I'm really glad for that and

congratulation for invent

this tool because helps so many people

and one of these people it's me

so thank you very much I'll just say

like for me and everyone who you know

Works day in and day out to build this

company and it's it's many hard

hours these moments and getting to work

with people like you make it very

fulfilling so thank you Cristiano and

thanks for coming on the W podcast thank

you very much all right much if you

enjoyed this episode of the wood podcast

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accessories and that's a wrap thank you

all for listening we'll catch you next

week on The W podcast and as always stay

healthy and stay in the green